Fixing Discord’s “Stuck on Starting” Issue: A Detailed Walkthrough

We’ve all been there. You’re excited to jump into a conversation on Discord, but the platform refuses to budge from its “starting” screen. Such hiccups can be disheartening, but fortunately, they’re often solvable. In this guide, we’ll explore various methods to address the ‘Discord Stuck on Starting’ conundrum.


Understanding the Problem:
The “stuck on starting” error typically suggests that Discord is having trouble initializing its connection to the internet, accessing its cache, or interacting with system processes. The exact cause can vary, but the following fixes have proven effective for many users.


1. Restart Your Computer:

It might sound clichéd, but many minor software glitches can be resolved by merely rebooting your computer. This action refreshes the system processes and can help eliminate any temporary bugs causing the hang.


2. Run Discord as an Administrator:

Sometimes, Discord might need additional permissions to interact with certain system resources:

  • Right-click on the Discord application icon.
  • Choose “Run as administrator.”

3. Clear Discord Cache:

Over time, the cache accumulates temporary files, which can sometimes lead to conflicts:

  • Navigate to the Discord cache folder. Typically, it’s located at C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Discord\Cache.
  • Delete all files inside the Cache folder.
  • Relaunch Discord.

4. Disable Proxies:

If you’re using a proxy server, it might interfere with Discord’s connectivity:

  • Press Windows + R, type inetcpl.cpl, and press Enter.
  • Go to the “Connections” tab and click on “LAN settings.”
  • Uncheck “Use a proxy server for your LAN.”
  • Save changes and restart Discord.

5. Adjust Date/Time Settings:

A mismatch in system date and time can sometimes affect connectivity:

  • Right-click on the system clock in the taskbar and select “Adjust date/time.”
  • Toggle the “Set time automatically” option off and on.
  • Relaunch Discord.

6. Reinstall Discord:

If all else fails, reinstalling the application can resolve potential software conflicts:

  • Uninstall Discord via the “Add or Remove Programs” utility.
  • Download the latest version of Discord from its official website.
  • Install Discord and try launching it again.

7. Check Discord’s Server Status:

On rare occasions, the issue might be on Discord’s end. Visit Discord’s official status page to check if their servers are experiencing any outages or slowdowns.


Conclusion:

While it’s frustrating when Discord gets stuck on the starting screen, the solutions above can often get you back into your conversations in no time. Remember, software platforms, no matter how refined, can have occasional hitches. The key is knowing how to navigate around them.

Stay connected and happy chatting!